Railway truck



Jan. 12, 1937.

D. S. BARROWS RAILWAY TRUCKJ Filed Sept. 5, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 'IHHIIM.

INVENTOR 2707a]? 51 Eur ow's ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 12, 1937 UNITED STATES.

PATENT OFFICE RAILWAY TRUCK 13 Claims.

This invention relates to railway trucks and,

more particularly, to nests ofv springs for supporting truck bolsters with spring plates for said nests.

,The principal object of my invention, generally considered, is to provide a practical interlock between all of the springs, in a nest of helical and elliptic or leaf springs, without making it necessary to assemble the entire spring group in the truck .at one time.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a nest of helical and elliptic or leaf springs with two main cast plates and two auxiliary plates, each cast plate engaging two coils or helical spring units only and an elliptic spring band, and each auxiliary plate connecting only two coils or helical spring units.

A further object of my invention is the provision of a nest of helical or coil and elliptic or leaf springs, in which the top and bottom main plates extend from opposite sides of the group, that is, thelower plate preferably extends outwardly from the inner side of the group and the upper plate preferably extends inwardly from the outer side of the group, said plates being supplemented by auxiliary plates which span helical or coil springs only.

A still further object of my invention is the provision of a novel method of assembling a nest of helicalor coil and elliptic or leaf springs comprising, first the application of two coils with an upper auxiliary plate to the bottom main plate,

second, the application of the lower half of the elliptic spring or lower semi-elliptic spring portion to said lower main plate, third, the application of the inner elliptic spring end or block, fourth, the application of the top half of the elliptic spring or upper semi-elliptic spring, fifth, the application of the two outer coils or helical spring units with the associated upper main plate and lower auxiliary plate, and sixth, the application of the outer elliptic spring end or block.

Other objects and advantages of the invention relating to the particulararrangement and construction of the various parts will become apparent as the description proceeds.

Referring to the drawings illustrating myinvention, the scope whereof is defined by the appended claims! 1 a,

Figure 1 is a fragmentary sideelevational view of a railway truck embodying my invention.

Figurei is a transverse sectional view of the spring nest removed from the truck, and taken Application September 5, 1934, Serial No. 742,825

on the line 22 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 3 is a plan of the nest of springs shown in Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a detail plan of one ofthe main 5 spring plates.

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view on the line 5-5 of Figure 4, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 6 is a detail sectional view, partly in ele- 10 vation, on the line 66 of Figure 4, looking in the only one end of which is illustrated. The bolster 3 extends into the windows 4 of the frames 2, each window being defined by a compression member 5,

a tension member 6, and bolster guide columns 1. Supported at each end, on the tension member of the frame beneath the windows 4, is a spring plank 8 between each end of which and each corresponding end of the bolster 3 is a nest of springs 30 9 disposed in the corresponding windows 4.

Each nest of springs 9 comprises, in the present embodiment, four helical or coil springs or spring units ill and an elliptic or banded leaf spring, or series of leaf springs held together by bands, I I. Each spring II in the present embodiment comprises a stack or series of curved spring leaves l2 held together intermediate their ends by bands l3, and divided into upper and lower groups, with their end portions separated by blocks or end members M, in accordance with the usual practice for full elliptic springs.

In order to center or hold the elliptic and coil springs in proper position between the bolster and spring plank, or bolster and frame, if the spring plank is omitted, I employ a pair of main, preferably cast, and interchangeable, upper and lower spring caps or plates l5 and I6, said plates being formed to surround or partially house the spring bands, as well as being provided with collars or spring centering portions ll extending toward the collars or corresponding portions l8 of associated auxiliary, preferably pressed metal, spring plates l9 and normally surrounded by the associated coil or helical springs in for centering purposes. The main spring plates l5 and it also directly engage the adjacent ends of the coil springs and are, in the present embodiment, 5 thicker at these places than the remaining web portions of the plates, thereby providing elevating seats for said springs which are closer to one another than the seats for the elliptic spring bands, one of which is formed on each main spring plate, thereby avoiding overstressing the leaves of said elliptic spring, or allowing for the greater travel of said spring than would otherwise bepermissible.

The construction of each main spring plate is desirably as illustrated in Figures 4, 5 and (6.

The spring band seating portion desirably comprises a lower web portion 2| which is concave upwardly, thereby insuring that the edge H portions of the associated spring band engage 20 said plate to avoid wobbling or rocking. The web portion 2| is bounded by flange portions 22 extending in :the same direction as the helical spring centering portions ll, said flange portions being of a height less than the thickness of the 25 spring .band material where they extend across the spring leaves,- and higher at the sides of said spring leaves, as indicated at 23, so that each spring band and its associated leaves forming asemi-elliptic spring is positioned by flanges which not only engage the sides of the band, but also the outermost spring leai', thereby insuring the proper centering or positioning of the associated elliptic spring.

The helical spring positioning portions ii and 18 are, in the present embodiment, formed so that they center the coils of the spring units i0, shown in the present embodiment as single coil, although inner coil springs may also be used, 11'

desired. The spring centering portions 18 of the auxiliary plates l9 are} in the present embodiment, formed tapered or conical, with the springs I 0 centered about the base portions of said bosses. The centering bosses-oi the cast or main plates l5 and. I6 are shown as of a form which is not truly conical, but which provides for centering the helical springs ill on the pedestals 26 of the bosses I'I.

Assembly of the main and auxiliary spring plates is desirably efiected by normally vertical bolts 28 and associated securing nuts 29 passing through the corresponding centering bosses H and it and desirably positioned coaxlally with the helical springs, as will be'seen from an inspection of Figure 2. v

In order to minimize weight, the spring cen- 55, tering portions ll of the cast plates are desirably ribbed rather than solid, as shown most clearly .in Figure 4, said ribbing 26 desirably merging with ribbing 30 around the remaining peripheral portions of the plate. The ribbing 30 serves to connect the separated ribbing portions 26 and said ribbing portions to the spring band centering ribbing or flanges 22. It will thus be seen thatthe coils iii are supported on relatively low I serpentine ribbing portions 26 around the relatively high radially extending ribs or spoke por- 'tions 25. .Spring plate centering or positioning nibs 3i on the main and- 32 on the auxiliary spring plates are desirably provided and adapted ,to lit in corresponding pockets in the associated bolster, frame, or spring plank, if used. Y The springs, springplates and securing bolts are desirably assembled with the side frame, bolster and spring plank, if used, asifollows:-A;i'ter the spring plank and bolster 3* are assembled with respect to the i'rame 2, and with the bolster spring plates, one of which positions only the elevated in the window I, the two inner coils or helical spring units G0 are assembled on the main bottom plate I 6. The top auxiliary plate for these springs and the securing bolt 28 are then applied, after which the lower half of the elliptic spring 5 ii is positioned with its spring band l3 resting on the supporting web 2| and surrounded by the flange portions 22 and 23. The inner spring end or block I is then applied, after which the top half of the elliptic spring II is positioned with 10 its inner end engaging said inner block M, with the outer block I 4 temporarily omitted. The next step is to assemble the two outer coil spring units ill with the top plate I5 and the bottom auxiliary plate l8 connected by the associated bolt 28, and 16 position these assembled parts with the top elliptic spring band positioning portion disposed over said spring band. The flnal step is to raise the upper half of theelliptic spring by positioning the outer block it and causing the upper band. i3 20 to lit the downwardly opening pocket in the upper springplate 15 provided for the purpose. The assembly being complete, the bolster may be low-. ered to position thereon When it is desired to remove the spring assembly from the truck, the 25 parts are taken out in the reverse order, as will be understood. a g

Although a preferred embodiment of my invention has been illustrated and described, it will be understood that. modifications may be made 0 within the spirit and scope" of the appended liptic spring spanning the distance therebetween,

a lower spring plate supporting and positioning only the inner row of helical springs and the el- 40 liptic spring, 'a lower spring plate supporting and positioning only the outer row of helical springs,

an upper spring plate resting only on the outer row of helical springs and said elliptic spring, and an upper spring plate resting only on the 45. inner row 'of'helical springs.

2. A spring nest, adapted for insertion in a window of a railway vehicle side frame for the support of an associated bolster, comprising outer and inner rows of helical springs with an el- 50 liptic spring resting therebetween; said nest having main upper and lower spring plates, one of which positions the outer helical springs only and has a portion extending to position the adjacent band of the elliptic spring, and the other of which positions the inner helical springs only, and has a portion projecting to position the adjacent band of the elliptic spring, and auxiliary outer helical springs and the-other of which positions only the inner helical springs.

3; Aspring nest, adapted for insertion'in the window of a railway vehicle side frame for the support of an associated bolster, comprising a 65 pair of outer helical spring units, a pair' of inner helical spring units, an elliptic spring resting between said units, a lower east spring plate supporting, and positioning only the inner pair of helical units, and formed with a portion on 70 which the lower band of the elliptic, spring seats, an upper cast spring plate resting only on the outer helical spring units, and formed with a portion projecting to seat on the upper band of the elliptic spring, and auxiliary pressed metal 5 outer and inner rows of helical springs with a spring comprising resilient leaves spanning the distance therebetween, a lower spring plate supporting and positioning only the inner row of helical springs and engaging and interlocking with a portion of the leaf spring, a lower spring plate supporting and positioning only the outer row of helical springs, an upper spring plate resting only on the outer row of helical springs and engaging another portion of said leaf spring, and an upper spring plate resting only on the inner row of helical springs.

5. A nest of helical and banded leaf springs comprising two-main plates and two auxiliary plates, each main/plate engaging two helical spring units only and a band of said leaf spring, and each auxiliary plate connecting only two helical spring units.

6. A nest of springs comprising coil and banded leaf springs and spring plates in which top and bottom main plates extend from opposite sides of the nest from corresponding coil springs to interlock with the same leaf spring, and supplemental plates associated with the remaining ends of the coil springs only.

7. A spring nest, adapted for insertion in the windowopening of a railway vehicle side frame for'the support of an associated bolster, comprising a pair of outer helical spring units, a

pair of inner helical spring units, an elliptic spring resting between said units, a lower spring plate supporting and positioning only theinner pair of helical units and formed with a portion supporting and interlocking with the elliptic spring, an upper spring plate resting only on the outer helical spring units and formed with a portion engaging and interlocking with the elliptic spring, auxiliary spring plates engaging the'helical springs only and supplementing said lower and upper plates, and means passing through corresponding plates along the axes of the helical spring units for holding said plates in assembled position.

8. A nest of coil and leaf springs formed in three parts, first, a leaf spring comprising upper and lower bands for the leaves thereof, second, a nest of coil springs having an upper cap with an extension interlocking with the upper spring band, and third, a nest of coil springs having a lower spring cap with an extension interlocking with the lower spring band.

9. A nest of springs comprising coil and banded leaf springs and spring plates, in which the top and bottom plates extend from opposite sides of the nest from corresponding'coil springs to interlock with the same leaf spring.

10. A cast plate for a nest of springs comprising radial rib portions adapted to center a coil spring and serpentine rib portions, the inner bends of which merge with the outer ends of said radial rib portions, said serpentine rib portions forming reinforcements on the spring-engaging side of said plate and providing a seating surface for a coil spring.

11. A cast plate for a nest of springs comprising radial rih portions adapted to center a coil spring and serpentine rib portions, the inner bends of which merge with the outer ends of said radial rib portions, said serpentine rib per-,- tions' forming reinforcements on the spring-engaging side of said plate and providing a seating surface for a coil spring, the inner ends of said radial ribs -merging with an embossment apertured to receive means for securing said plate to one associated with the other end of said coil spring.

12. A nest of springs comprising banded leaf springs forming an elliptic spring and coil spring means comprising at least one coil spring on each side thereof, a spring plate for the lower elliptic spring band and the coil spring means on one side only of said elliptic spring, and a spring plate for the upper spring band and the coil spring means on the other side only of said elliptic spring. 1

13. A nest comprising a set of banded leaf springs and at least one helical spring on each side of said set, and two spring plates, one of which engages only one end of the helical spring means at one side of the leaf springs and a band thereof, and the other of which engages the other end of the helical spring means at the other side of the leaf springs and another band thereof.

DONALD S. BARROWS. 

